Coal mine equipment theft leads to charges against Wright man

DOUGLAS (WNE) — A Wright man accused of stealing $43,518 worth of tools from Antelope Creek Coal Mine and selling them on eBay now faces felony theft charges.

James Brien, born in 1984, is charged with two separate counts of theft, with both carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence and a fine of $10,000 if he is convicted.

Brien was arrested after an investigation by the Converse County Sheriff’s Office in September.

According to arresting documents, the department received a call from Antelope Creek Coal Mine staff, who reported a Colorado man had contacted them regarding a torque gun he was interested in purchasing off eBay. The potential buyer had tracked the torque gun’s serial number to the mine, only to find out the company was not selling the tool.

The online seller, later identified as Brien, told the buyer he “works for a big mine and bought the tool with his tool allowance.”

CCSO personnel confirmed Brien was employed with Antelope Creek Coal Mine and received a full list of items Brien had signed out from the mine since he began working there over a year ago. By matching the items’ part numbers and item descriptions, law enforcement confirmed the items Brien had checked out were the same ones he’d listed for sale.

“Brien’s account shows that he has sold 80 items since September 2023, and 99 that he has not sold, of this 99 (Antelope Creek Coal Mine staff) confirmed 93 of these items belong to the mine,” according to the affidavit.

The items included several chain hoists, the torque gun, flashlights, and oxygen/acetylene torches, according to the affidavit, which states Brien allegedly stole $43,518 worth of equipment from the mine while earning $22,376 on eBay.

Brien’s case was bound to the state District Court in Douglas on Nov. 5. He is no longer incarcerated.

This story was published on November 20, 2024.